WINNIPEG – Red hot Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor is the NHL’s Third Star of the Week.
Connor, 21, was chosen for the weekly honour after scoring overtime goals in back-to-back games. Connor racked up six points including four goals and two assists in the three games last week.
Connor is just the second rookie in NHL history to score a regular season overtime goal in consecutive games. He also has at least a goal in five of the Jets’ last six contests.
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After starting the season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, Connor is now suddenly in the conversation for rookie of the year. He is tied for the NHL rookie lead in goals with 29 and has also accumulated 21 assists. His 50 points is good for fifth best among rookies.
Connor is now tied with Ilya Kovalchuk for the second most rookie goals in franchise history and sits only seven goals back of Patrik Laine’s franchise record for rookie goals in a season with seven games still remaining.
Connor is the sixth Jets player to be chosen for a weekly accolade this season joining Laine, Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers. It’s also the ninth time this season a Jets player has been selected as one of the NHL’s Three Stars of the Week.
The Jets host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday after officially clinching a playoff berth.